Archive for January, 2019

There will be a new fire engine responding to emergency calls in Derby.

The City Council approved a purchase to replace Engine 82, which officials say is reaching the end of its service life.

The new engine, made by Pierce Manufacturing of Appleton, Wis., will cost $642,620 and is being purchased through Conrad Fire Equipment. That price includes a pre-payment discount of $23,253.

There was one other bidder for the contract, Hays Fire and Rescue, for a Rosenbauer model engine. That contract’s price was higher, at $678,913.

Fire Chief Brad Smith was pleased with the process and said the new engine will be able to serve Derby residents for years.

“I was excited about what we saw tonight,” he said of the council’s approval, which came at its Jan. 22 meeting.

The price includes delivery and additional training with the new engine.

The current Engine 82, which was built in 2001, has 7,622 hours of use, which equals a car having 180,000 to 200,000 miles.

Its actual miles are in the 80,000 range, but fire officials say that is deceiving as the engine is put through much more use than driven miles. For one, when it’s at a scene, it can be running for hours, pumping water.

While there have been few major changes in the overall exterior appearance of fire engines during the past two decades, there have been shifts inside as there is now much more computerized equipment onboard, Smith said.

The city has two fire stations and two engines, one assigned to each station.

There is no reserve unit, but the current Engine 82 will now serve that purpose. Renamed Res81, it will be housed at the new Station 81 at Madison and Woodlawn. That station is replacing one at 128 W. Market.

The new engine will be assigned to Station 82, which is on 1401 N. Rock Road.

The resale value of an old fire engine, especially one that has been heavily used, is rather low, so there’s little financial benefit in trying to sell it.

It should take about 8-1/2 months to build; however, the exact time frame will depend on the manufacturer’s schedule.

The actual amount for the engine and associated equipment in the 2019 budget is $723,000. Most of the loose equipment related to it will be bid separately this year.

“Even though $723,000 was budgeted, and this engine and hose together will cost $658,229, it is too early to label this purchase as ‘under budget,’” Smith said. “We still have other equipment to purchase from this budget to complete the apparatus.”

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Leavenworth County Fire District No. 1 is hiring part-time firefighters.

Chief Todd Farley said one of the department’s weaknesses is staffing levels during daytime hours.

“We’re predominantly a volunteer department,” he said.

He said the department has “a good group of volunteers, but their availability isn’t necessarily during the day,” especially during the work week.

Leavenworth County Fire District No. 1 provides fire department services to the city of Lansing and Delaware and High Prairie townships.

The department already employs full-time firefighters. And three of the full-time employees are assigned to each shift.

But the addition of part-time employees “will allow us to have at least four or five people on duty during the day,” Farley said.

Farley said part-time positions already have been offered to three volunteer members of Fire District No. 1. The chief is now looking to hire firefighters from outside of the department to fill additional part-time positions.

The chief said he hopes to fill eight or nine part-time positions in total.

Farley said he has talked with chiefs of other fire departments that have part-time employees, and he knows retention of part-time staff may be a challenge.

“There’s a little bit of a revolving door that goes with that,” he said.

But Farley said he is “hoping that we’re able to keep” the firefighters who are hired.

Fire District No. 1 is advertising the part-time positions at a time when Lansing city officials are looking to withdraw from the district.

Lansing City Council members have announced their intention to end their relationship with the district in June 2020.

Lansing officials plan to operate a city fire department in the future.

Farley said he has been assured by Lansing officials that current full-time employees of Fire District No. 1 will be hired by the city if the district is dissolved.

Farley said he assumes the part-time firefighter program also would remain intact “because it’s the best thing for the citizens.”

Fire District No. 1 officials have set a Feb. 13 application deadline for the part-time positions. Information about the positions can be found on the district’s website, www.lvcofiredistrict1.com

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INTRODUCTION:
The 190th Fire Department welcomes you to starting the process of becoming a career firefighter with us. We are a one station department with 25 employees consisting of three shifts of eight personnel. We work a 48/96 shift schedule and are the only State of Kansas employed firefighters. Our mission is to support the flying mission of the 190th Air Refueling Wing at Forbes Field in Topeka, KS and surrounding communities. We provide fire protection for the aircraft, buildings on base, and emergency medical services to the employees of the base. We also have several automatic mutual aid agreements in Shawnee and Osage County. We look forward to meeting you.

GENERAL:
Candidates will have the desire to help others, protect the lives and property of the 190th Air Refueling Wing and surrounding communities. Individuals will perform as part of a team while responding to emergencies, training events, performing inspections, and education programs. Performs firefighting and emergency medical services including, but not limited to, fire prevention, control and extinguishment, aircraft responses, hazmat incidents, driving and operating firefighting apparatus and emergency vehicles, rescue, medical treatment, training, public education, and station and apparatus maintenance duties.

DUTIES:
Responds to a wide variety of emergency alarms, such as structural and environmental fires, traffic
accidents, natural gas leaks, medical emergencies and hazardous material spills. Fights fires under departmental procedures and as directed by a fire company officer; connects and lays hose lines, sets ladders and operates fire streams; uses hand and power tools to ventilate and enter burning structures for the purpose of extinguishing fires and to perform search and rescue operations; raises, lowers and climbs ladders to enter structures; performs salvage, clean up and overhaul operations during and after fires to remove hazards and protect property.
Provides first responder medical emergency response at the basic life support level, including initial patient and situation assessment, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and trauma emergency medical care; prepares patients and assists paramedics in advanced life support emergency medical care.

Participates in specialized rescue operations, including high angle and underground situations involving the use of rigging and shoring; operates specialized hand and power tools and equipment to rescue traffic accident victims.
Cleans, services and makes minor repairs to ensure the operational readiness of vehicles, apparatus, hoses and emergency equipment; participates in the cleaning, repair and upkeep of department buildings, grounds and facilities.

Participates in drills, demonstrations and courses in firefighting techniques, equipment and apparatus operation, medical aid, hazardous materials, fire prevention, equipment maintenance; studies local geography and conditions affecting fire operations; studies and learns departmental operating procedures.
Participates in the development and implementation of the department’s public education. Assists in the inspection of occupancies, assists in performing follow-up procedures to ensure compliance to Fire Codes, National Electrical Code, Uniform Building Codes and state, regional and local fire codes.
Participates in department fitness program.

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Just in time for the start of wildfire season, Lewis Ford of Hays last week delivered an F-550 truck chassis to Hays Fire and Rescue Sales and Service, where electricians, plumbers, fabricators and painters are transforming it into a fire and rescue truck for Ellis County.

“We’re about three-quarters done,” said Kelly Meyers, president of Hays Fire on Old U.S. Highway 40. “We build everything from the chassis back, so the whole body is fabricated out here, and mounted and wired.”

Monday morning, in the company’s 15,000-square-foot metal building at 1151 Moe Rd., Meyers explained how the process works.

“The material comes into the shop in sheets and long tubes, and these are our jigs,” he said. “That bed there will turn into a bed like that. We cut it and shape it and bend it.” And paint it.

Standing to the back of Ellis County’s 2019 red F-550, Meyers pulled a silver latch to open a compartment on the truck.

“We make all of this, from the window on back, we add all the lights, electrical, paint,” he said. “These are compartments and that’s a generator, this runs electricity. So, say somebody crashes in the middle of the night, and the fire fighters need lighting, they’ll pull this out and plug in lights and set up a scene. This one they’ll have all their reels for their hydraulic tools, for their jaws, their spreaders, their rams.”

The county’s new fire truck with custom bed will roll into its new home at Ellis County Fire Department Company Six in Ellis sometime in mid- to late February, Meyers said.

A brush-rescue truck, it not only has equipment to fight wildfires and structural fires, but also rescue tools so the 16 Company Six firefighters can respond to accidents, he said. The Ellis County Commissioners in August approved the $113,049 purchase as part of a 25-year capital replacement plan for the fire district.

The truck replaces a 41-year-old 1978 International that’s been out of service due to mechanical problems. Without the International, the county currently has rescue units only in Hays and Victoria, instead of its usual three, responding to 911 rescue emergencies, said Darin Myers, director of Ellis County Fire and Emergency Management.

“Rescue trucks carry about $30,000 in specialized equipment, including hydraulic cutters and spreaders that can cut vehicles apart, spread metal and bend metal,” Myers said. They also have air bags that inflate like a big square pillow to rescue anyone trapped under anything from a small vehicle to a semi to a tree, he said.

The Ellis station covers the western third of the county, from Yocemento Avenue west, and has three other trucks: a water tender, fire engine and brush truck.

“In 2018, the most common calls we had were for vehicle accidents,” Myers said. The largest percentage, more than 19 percent, are vehicle calls, including someone trapped in a vehicle. More than 16 percent are to put out grass fires, Myers said.

The new Ellis truck, with a V-10 gas motor, is not as big as the old one it replaces.

“This one’s a little smaller, a little more economic, than what they were running for rescue,” Meyers said. “Their last rescue was an older truck, a lot bigger truck, and bigger water capacity.”

In this case, smaller is better, said Myers.

“Before we had the vehicle rescue trucks, all the vehicle rescue tools were on our fire engines, which are designed for fighting house fires,” he said. “This will lessen the load on our $300,000 fire engines, to prolong their life and get 25 years out of them. We’ll be using the less expensive truck more often and saving wear and tear on the more expensive truck.”

The smaller, four-wheel drive F-550, is more versatile and agile. Now there will be room on the bigger fire trucks for fire equipment, Myers said, such as 18-inch by 18-inch ventilation fans to ventilate hazardous gases and smoke from houses and other structures.

Besides Company Six in Ellis, the Ellis County Fire Department has stations in Hays, Schoenchen, Catharine, Munjor and Victoria, covering 900 square miles of Ellis County. The department’s 85 part-time firefighters are paid per call to respond to wildfires, vehicle fires and farm fires, as well as assist with emergency medical calls, wrecks, rescue calls, chemical spills and other emergencies.

On the average call in 2018, 12 firefighters responded, Myers said. From the time they were dispatched, they were on the scene within 9.5 minutes anywhere in the county. Usually two firefighters ride on the back and three up front. Those in front, except the driver, move to the back during a brush fire, he said.

In 2018, 7,275 acres burned in Ellis County, including northeast of Hays in early March near Toulon Avenue and Homestead Road. That fire was 8 miles long and more than 2 miles wide.

The new brush rescue truck can carry 500 gallons of water. How long that will last depends, Myers said.

“On a vehicle fire, you use a different size and type of nozzle, which empties the tank faster,” he said. “That would take roughly 5 minutes. With grass fire its a smaller line and you usually set your nozzle lower, so it would last about 25 minutes.”

The new truck right now is keeping company at Hays Fire and Rescue alongside Ford, Chevy, International and Freightliner trucks of various sizes and colors from Sheridan, McPherson, Pawnee, Finney and Sherman counties. Hays Fire and Rescue is one of eight such companies in the state. Kansas has more fire and rescue truck suppliers than anywhere else in the country, Meyers said.

In general, the trend is toward taller, longer fire and rescue trucks.

“We’re going to bigger trucks, more water capability, bigger pumps,” Meyers said. “The personnel is getting less and less for the volunteers. People don’t want to give up time anymore, they’re too busy. So we’re designing our trucks to be a one- and two-man operation truck.”

The typical brush truck runs from 300 to 500 gallons of water, while the bigger ones are 1,000 to 1,500 or 2,000 gallons.

Ellis County’s new truck pumps 250 gallons a minute at 150 pounds per square inch, which is normal for a little brush truck, Meyers said. The bigger trucks are 130 gallons a minute at 600 psi. The high-pressure pump streams less water but more pressure, so firefighters can stay back from the fire, and also have more pressure to knock it down.

“The more water, the more gross vehicle weight,” Meyers said. “A little truck will carry up to 19,500 gross vehicle weight, carrying 30 to 40 gallons of fuel. With the bigger trucks we’re going up to 33,000 gvw, carrying 50 to 100 gallons a fuel.”

Fire trucks in any rural department see a lot of abuse in the field, he said. Most firetrucks have a 20-year lifespan as a first-out primary truck, after that, the state requires they operate as a secondary truck, he said.

“Most rural departments, it depends on how they use them, don’t last that long. It depends on what abuse they go through,” Meyer said.

Unlike cars and light-duty trucks, where drive trains wear out, fire and rescue trucks just go out and do their job. One of the firetrucks at Hays Fire and Rescue has only 10,000 miles on it. While the old motor and transmission are fine, Hays Fire and Rescue is repainting the cab, adding a lift kit, a new bed and new water pumps.

“It’s just a lot of rough terrain. It’s the beating of the bouncing and the heat they go through,” Meyers said. “The interior gets shot and full of smoke. They get scratched, they get dented.”

February, March, April and May are the biggest months of the year for wildfires, Myers said.

“Our heavy call time is coming up,” he said. “The cold and freezing over the winter dries everything out. So February kicks off the fire season.”

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The Gardner Edgerton school district is set to introduce a firefighting program for high school seniors in conjunction with Fire District No.1.
The program, under the career and technical education (CTE) project which currently enrolls 1600 students in different career cohorts is expected to start in the spring of 2020 according to coordinator of student services Mellissa McIntire.
Under the arrangement, the district will partner with the fire district to train at least 10 students annually with the expectation that upon graduation the students will be ready to join the force or pursue a career in firefighting elsewhere.
Once approved, the district will contribute $40,000 towards part of the instructor salary while the fire district will provide the facilities, equipment and the training.
Fire Chief Rob Clark told the district that the fire district intends to offer employment to the students who complete the program adding that there is utility in having firefighters who come from the community working in the community.
“Having kids who come from this community joining our force means a lot to me,” he said adding that he and several other firefighters in the district are graduates of Gardner Edgerton High school.
Scott Casey, the assistant Fire chief said that compared to other school districts in the area, USD 231 is getting a good deal under the proposed arrangement.
“A similar program in Shawnee Mission is funded 100% by the school district. Olathe school district pays 60% of instructor pay in addition to equipment and facilities,” he said.
Pam Stranathan, superintendent, said that the program is aimed at developing professional interest in the student population and delivering high quality education and skills needed to make the students marketable for employment in the firefighting service.
McIntire said that interested students will fill out an application that will gauge their interest in the field and the district will determine the schedule of attendance.
Upon graduation the students will get high school credit for fire safety.

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Located at 5300 Woodsonia Drive, Fire Station 74 is a 9,220-square-foot facility.

In lieu of a ribbon cutting, Shawnee firefighters, city leaders and project team members conducted a “hose uncoupling.” Fire Chief John Mattox said they are carrying on the 150-year-old tradition that occurs when firefighters open a new fire station.

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Newly promoted Overland Park Fire Captain Chris Palmer is coming to Merriam. Captain Palmer will fill a vacancy created by the recent retirement of Captain Doug Crockett, who served the people of Merriam for 32 years.

Captain Palmer is a 19-year veteran of the Overland Park Fire Department. He has served in the roles of firefighter, firemedic, hazardous materials technician/coordinator and fire lieutenant. He also holds various degrees and certifications, including degrees in business administration and marketing, fire science and paramedicine.

Captain Palmer is excited about the opportunity to serve as one of three captains at the Merriam station. The members of the Overland Park Fire Department are proud to provide fire protection and emergency medical services to the people of Merriam.

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The Pittsburg Fire Department hosted an open house for high school kids from across Southeast Kansas, to explore how that program could work for kids in Cherokee and Crawford counties, and hopefully reverse a growing trend.

“It’s a regional thing where the volunteer numbers are down for fire departments, the career numbers are down, and so it’s important that we strike the interest on this younger generation,” says Mike Simons, Chief, Pittsburg Fire Department.

The program would be open to high school juniors and seniors, and would have the students coming to the Pittsburg Fire Department for part of the day to learn.

PrairieLand Partners and Winfield Fire/EMS department were host to a countywide agriculture safety event Jan. 12 at the PrairieLand Partners Winfield location. The event was put together as an agricultural machinery training event for local first responders and focused on machine related accidents in agriculture.

Technicians from PrairieLand Partners went through agricultural equipment with first responders to help them better understand the equipment. The technicians gave a thorough explanation how the inner workings of a machine are designed and operate. This year’s training focused on entanglement injuries and the proper procedures first responders should use in handling such a scenario.

Cowley County Farm Bureau Association representative Denise Middleton also attended the event with additional data pertaining to farm injuries and fatalities. This is the first year for the event with plans to host similar training annually.

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Firefighters at Fort Riley’s Station One perform a short Push-In Ceremony for the station’s new truck on January 7. The ceremony honors the firefighters’ work from the days of horse-drawn trucks. The new truck is a 2018 Pierce Saber.

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Pratt Volunteer Fire Department Chief David Kramer would like to establish a permanent training facility in Pratt for his squad of 22 active volunteer firefighters as a solution to the current training program situation which, he said, adds hours of set-up and tear-down time to training exercises.
Kramer presented ideas for a facility based on shipping containers to Pratt City commissioners at their regular Monday meeting and received positive responses that fell short of commitment.
“I think it’s a good idea,” said commissioner Jason Leslie.
Kramer’s presentation included a slideshow of various configurations, suggesting one that would start with five 40-foot containers with a stairway and walkway, which would cost about $16,000.
“It’s a fraction of the cost of construction and the city would be getting a lot of bang for its bucks,” Kramer said. “It won’t be an eyesore, I promise you.“
Location for the proposed training center is on city-owned property at the corner of 10th Street and Highway 61, north of Pratt Community College where water is available.
“Training is a priority and volunteers spend hundreds of hours devoted to the skills needed for this job,” Kramer said.
Kramer also reported that the Pratt Volunteer Fire Department received the Tom McGaughey Award for Heroism Above and Beyond the Call of Duty and that the department was awarded an $11,000 Kansas Firefighter and Recruitment and Safety Grant to be used for two sets of gear and a commercial extractor to wash bunker gear.
Kramer stated that during 2018 volunteer firemen answered a wide variety of calls and also focused on making smoke and carbon dioxide detectors a priority in the community.

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After 31 years as a first responder, as a firefighter in Lincolnville, and later as an EMT in Marion, Kim Ross reached her retirement at the end of December.

Ross became the first female fire captain in Marion County with the Lincolnville department in the mid-’90s, but she saw resistance along the way.

“One of the older gentlemen from Lincolnville told me a woman’s place was in the home, barefoot and pregnant,” she said. “That irritated me. I decided that if I failed, it was my choice instead of somebody telling me I couldn’t do it.”

Ross moved to Lincolnville in 1986, and joined the fire department soon after.

In her time there, she became one of the department’s constants, Lincolnville fire chief Les Kaiser said. He joined at the same time as Ross and Barry Montgomery, who had already retired.

“With her gone, it’s just like I’m the last one of the three,” he said. “It was difficult to see her go. There were just so many different calls we went through, hundreds of calls that had an effect on us.”

The trio was convinced to take the EMT exam by then-EMS director Joann Knaak, which started Ross’ involvement with medical services.

Not even pregnancy or council members could stop Ross, Kaiser said. One council member tried to prevent her from working EMS and fire when she was pregnant, but he and Knaak supported Ross’ case.

“As long as the doctor said she could run, I let her run and that’s the way Joann was at the time too,” Kaiser said.

The transition to working exclusively as an EMT began around the time Ross moved to Marion with her second husband in 2002.

“When she left Lincolnville and moved to Marion, that was a loss for Lincolnville,” he said.

Her husband owns and drives for Triple R Hauling in Marion, while Ross handles the office work.

While she enjoyed firefighting and working for EMS, the time investment was too much for both, Ross said.

“As our kids got older, it was a struggle to keep up with them, and full-time work, full-time EMS, and my trucking job,” she said. “My husband said something, either fire or EMS, had to go.”

Jamie Shirley has worked with Ross since becoming EMS department secretary 14 years ago, and Ross made a sizable impression at the office and in the community.

“She was very professional,” Shirley said. “When she would show up at a call, folks in Marion always felt reassured.”

The decision to hang up her EMS jacket for good was no quick decision.

“With my grandkids growing up so fast, we decided my time was better spent here with the business and spending time with our grandkids,” she said.

Ross began discussing her retirement a year ahead of time, but there was some hope she wouldn’t go through with it.

“I definitely kept trying to convince her to recertify for another two years,” Shirley said.

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The Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) has an opening for a Full-time Unclassified Emergency Response Division Chief. This position is in Topeka. Some travel, including overnight is required.

Duties will include, but are not limited to the following:

Plans, organizes and directs all activities of the Emergency Response Division including, but not limited to, negotiating contracts for services provided by fire departments and others at a regional level.

Works with the Staff Development Specialist II’s to create and deliver quality hazmat and search and rescue training programs statewide.

Develops and maintains a strong communication network between all federal, state and local agencies involved in hazmat and search and rescue.

Evaluates and/r suggests revisions to the regulations, policies, procedures and guidelines necessary for the operation of the emergency response program.

Develops the division strategic plan.

Represents the State Fire Marshal at numerous fire service functions.

Serves on committees, advisory boards and work teams to promote hazmat and search and rescue awareness and educate people about the capabilities of the emergency response program.

Acts as consultant to the State Fire Marshal and Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal on issues of hazmat and search and rescue.

Develops position requirements for response team members and ensures contacting entities have adequately trained and equipped personnel to meet their contractual obligations.

Ensures all valid requests for assistance are responded to within designated time frames and in accordance with applicable federal and state laws that govern the activity.

Two years’ experience in planning, organizing and directing the work of a department, program or agency.

Extensive knowledge of chemicals, their flammable or harmful properties, interactions and criteria for their transport.

Ability to supervise; coordinate program activities with other agencies and jurisdictions; communicate effectively both orally and in writing; use tack and diplomacy in dealing with people; keep records; prepare reports and formulate division budget.

Possess three years of experience in managing, administering and/or supervising human, financial, physical or informational resources and five years’ experience working in some facet of hazmat and search and rescue program administration or response.

Must be familiar with all federal and state laws and regulations applicable to hazardous materials and search and rescue responses.

Education may be substituted for experience as determined relevant by the agency.

Performance Standards: To be successful, the expectation is that a candidate will be able to competently perform the routine tasks of the position with limited supervision within six (6) months of hire date.

HOW TO APPLY: The application process has 3 STEPS.

STEP 1: Register by completing the online Personal Data Form(Skip this step if you already have an Applicant ID or Employee ID number.)

STEP 2: Complete the official State of Kansas application form (please indicate all relevant prior experiences and training on your application) and submit to the Fire Marshal.

STEP 3: Email the additional required documents to brenda.schuette@ks.gov. Include the job requisition number and your last name in the subject line.

Include your name and job requisition number on all correspondence when submitting documents.

Your application will be considered incomplete and you will be found ineligible if you fail to submit the required application and documentation by the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

NOTE: If you lack any of the required experience and want us to consider relevant education, you must provide copies of your college transcripts/certificates before the closing date.

KANSAS TAX CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE REQUIRED

Each applicant applying for a State of Kansas job vacancy must obtain a valid Kansas Certificate of Tax Clearance by accessing the Kansas Department of Revenue’s website. Your application will be considered incomplete if not submitted by the closing date of the vacancy.

A Tax Clearance is a comprehensive tax account review to determine and ensure that an individual’s account is compliant with all primary Kansas Tax Laws. A Tax Clearance expires every 90 days. Applicants, including current State employees, are responsible for submitting a valid and up to date certificate with all other application materials to the hiring agency. This is in accordance with Executive Order 2004-03. If you need assistance with the tax clearance, please contact 785-296-3199.

Process for Selection: Upon receipt of your complete application packet, an evaluation of your qualifications will be conducted, and your status based on the established minimum requirements, necessary special requirements, if applicable, and preferred selection criteria for the specific vacancy will be determined. Based on your ranking in comparison with other applicants, you may/may not be referred for further consideration and/or possible interview. If you are not selected for the vacancy, you will be notified within 30 days of the position being filled.

Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement: The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ensures you the right to reasonable accommodations. A request for an accommodation will not affect your opportunities for employment with the State of Kansas. Arrangements will be made if you have a disability that requires an accommodation for completing an application form, interviewing or any other part of the employment process. It is your responsibility to make your needs known to the OSFM Recruitment Office at 785-296-0654.

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The City of Chanute is now accepting applications for a full time Firefighter. Minimum age requirement is 18, must have a valid Kansas driver’s license, high school graduate or equivalent, excellent health, general knowledge of the geography of the City and surrounding area, U.S. citizen, no criminal record, ability to understand and follow instructions, ability to react calmly and quickly to unusual and emergency situations, mechanical aptitude to learn and operate complex machinery, and have the ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with co-workers. Starting hourly wage: $13.17 D.O.Q. Firefighter I and current (within 1 year) Candidate Physical Agility Test (CPAT) certification are preferred. Successful applicant will be required to take a physical exam and drug screen. Apply at the Human Resource Department, located on the third floor of Memorial Building, 101 S. Lincoln or go to www.chanute.org for full job description and apply online. Or mail resume to: City of Chanute, c/o Human Resource Dept. P.O. Box 907, Chanute, KS 66720 or email resume to tendicott@chanute.org. Deadline for applications: February 1, 2019. EOE/M/F/D/V.

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After much discussion among the Executive board and our partners at the Kansas Insurance Department, we have decided to CANCEL the FRA seminar for this Saturday in Salina. We will be putting portions of the seminar though into the Annual conference in April in Salina as a mini clinic Please watch for upcoming details on this as we approach the April timeframe. We appreciate your understanding on this and look forward to seeing you in April.

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The Office of the State Fire Marshal has an opening for an Unclassified Fire Investigation Supervisor. This position supervises the field Investigators in the Eastern part of Kansas and provides technical work assisting in directing the field operations of the investigation’s division of the OSFM. Extensive statewide travel is required, including overnights.

Duties will include, but are not limited to the following:

fire and explosive work enforcing state criminal statutes, agency statutes and regulations

participating in investigative activities to include case status/clearance reports

assists local agencies in planning and conducting public and agency education programs

Pay Rate: $23.31 per hour ($48,484.80 annually).

Minimum Requirements:

Experience in managing and/or supervising the work of a department, program or agency

Five years of full-time law enforcement criminal investigative experience with preferred experience in fire and explosive investigations

Must have a current full-time law enforcement certification by the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Commission (KLETC). Out of state certifications will be considered on a case by case basis.

IAAI-CFI certification or obtain the necessary certification within minimum experience requirements as soon as practical

Certification as a Public Safety Instructor 1 or be enrolled in the Public Safety Instructor 1 certification program at KU Fire Service Training or equivalent facility and obtain the necessary certification within twelve (12) months of hire date

Must have a valid driver’s license.

A four-year college degree in a criminal justice field may be substituted for the required experience. In order to substitute education for experience, a college transcript must be submitted at time of application.

Necessary Special Requirements:

Must be a United States citizen and at least 21 years of age.

At time of offer, candidate must take and pass a drug screening test approved by the Office of Personnel Services and take a pre-employment physical.

Top candidates must take and pass a background check and polygraph.

This position requires the use of a firearm for law enforcement duties therefore, candidates cannot have been convicted of, and must be free of any diversions from, a felony or misdemeanor domestic violence crime as set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 922 (d) (9) and (g) (9).

knowledge of investigation procedures, rules of evidence and rights of suspects, and criminal court procedures and practices.

ability to plan and conduct investigations, ascertain facts and obtain evidence, establish and maintain favorable relationships with co-workers, professionals and the public.

keep records, prepare reports, speak in public, present evident and be able to use a camera.

Certification as a Fire Inspector 1 or be enrolled in the Fire Inspector 1 certification program and obtain the necessary certification within twelve (12) months of hire date is preferred.

Certification as an IFSAC Hazardous Materials Technician level or be enrolled in HazMat Tech certification program and obtain the necessary certification within twelve (12) months of hire date is preferred.

Licenses, Certifications & Registration:

Current certification as a full-time law enforcement officer by the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Commission as required by K.S.A. 74-5601a. Out of state certifications will be considered on a case by case basis.

Must have a current, valid driver’s license.

Performance Standards: To be successful, the expectation is that a candidate will be able to competently perform the routine tasks of the position with limited supervision within six (6) months of hire date.

Your application will be considered incomplete and you will be found ineligible if you fail to submit the required application and documentation by the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

NOTE: In you lack any of the required experience and want us to consider relevant education, you must provide copies of your college transcripts (must include name of the educational institution) and certificates before the closing date.

KANSAS TAX CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE REQUIRED

Each applicant applying for a State of Kansas job vacancy must obtain a valid Kansas Certificate of Tax Clearance by accessing the Kansas Department of Revenue’s website at http://www.ksrevenue.org/taxclearance.html . Your application will be considered incomplete if not submitted by the closing date of the job posting.

A Tax Clearance is a comprehensive tax account review to determine and ensure that an individual’s account is compliant with all primary Kansas Tax Laws. A Tax Clearance expires every 90 days. Applicants, including current State employees, are responsible for submitting a valid and up to date certificate with all other application materials to the hiring agency. This is in accordance with Executive Order 2004-03. If you need assistance with the tax clearance, please contact 785-296-3199.

Your application will be considered incomplete if an ACTUAL COPY of your certificate is not submitted on or before the vacancy closing date.

Process for Selection: Upon receipt of your complete application packer, an evaluation of your qualifications will be conducted, and your status based on the established minimum requirements, necessary special requirements, and preferred selection criteria for the specific vacancy will be determined. Based on your ranking in comparison with other applicants, you may/may not be referred for further consideration and/or possible interview. If you are not selected for the vacancy, you will be notified within 30 days of the position being filled.

Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement: The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ensures you the right to reasonable accommodations. A request for an accommodation will not affect your opportunities for employment with the State of Kansas. Arrangements will be made if you have a disability that requires an accommodation for completing an application form, interviewing or any other part of the employment process. It is your responsibility to make your needs known to the OSFM Recruitment Office at 785-296-0654.

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Position Responsibilities: Assists with fire prevention/suppression training, education, operational guidance, and technical expertise to the County Commissioners, County Fire Districts, and business and property owners. Assists with planning and implementing County fire prevention programs and activities, and other duties.

Education/Experience Required: A high school diploma, GED, or equivalent, plus four (4) years’ experience in fire prevention/suppression activities required. Knowledge and experience with computer data entry using Microsoft Office programs necessary. Must have or obtain within three (3) years of employment Training Firefighter I, II, Instructor I, Fire Cause and Determination, and Officer I certifications.

Special Requirements: Possession and maintenance of a valid driver’s license and a clean driving record. Must live within Pottawatomie County, or within a 25-mile radius of Westmoreland, Kansas, the County seat.

TO APPLY: Visit www.hrepartners.com. For a copy of the job description, or more information, contact Human Resources, 785-457-3455 or cmalchose@pottcounty.org. Applicants recommended for employment are subject to post-offer pre-employment screening including a pre-employment drug test. Pottawatomie County is an EOE. We recognize WorkReady Certificates.

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The Local Emergency Planning Committee met Thursday afternoon and heard from a speaker on the subject of hazardous chemical spills on railways.

The speaker, Executive Vice President of Environmental Works Inc., John Rode, was there as a substitute for Manager of Hazardous Materials Field Operations Derek Lampkin of BNSF Railway, who was unable to be present at the meeting. During his presentation, Rode said railroads often saw shipments of hazardous materials. In 2014, BNSF saw about 1.8 million shipments of hazardous materials via railway.

Rode talked about the safety measures taken during these shipments, including items called “rupture disks” on liquid tank cars.

“Most of us will understand, if you have a package and it can create pressure, it needs to have a way to let pressure off,” he said. “A lot of these cars that carry hazmat materials that are corrosive — have a pH that’s high or low — will have a rupture disk. It’s a mechanical device that relieves pressure.”

However, once it relieves pressure, it won’t reset on its own and has to be reset manually by someone such as Rode.

Generally, according to Rode’s presentation, about 73 percent of hazardous materials incidents occur due to human error. Mechanical error accounts for 20 percent and problems with rupture disks only account for 7 percent of such incidents.

He said BNSF has access to a team that will mobilize to handle disasters on its railways. BNSF employs Environmental Works for this purpose.

“We’ve developed a lot of specialized equipment,” Rode said.

This includes a fleet of industrial firefighting trailers, emergency breathing air trailers, chlorine kits, midland kits and air monitoring assets.

The firefighting trailers are equipped with special pumps that can be used to fight fires that might be caused by train derailments in place of using local trucks that could be damaged in the process.

“We can tear them apart, move them piece by piece, we can bury them in the mud, we can flip them upside down, we can catch them on fire,” he said. “And we don’t put our communities in a situation where they’ve lost their apparatus or we’ve damaged it.”

Rode said the team can use AFFF foam to fight gasoline fires and alcohol resistant AFFF foam for alcohol fires. These are only some of the devices provided to help handle hazmat incidents.

“They are not disposable to us, but they are more disposable than the community’s apparatuses,” Rode said of the assets his team had for use in the event of disasters on BNSF-owned rails.

According to Rode, foam trailers can be loaned out to railroads other than BNSF and communities that request its use.

While Lampkin was unable to present at the meeting, he was reachable by phone later that day.

“We operate in 28 states, three Canadian provinces, and we have 32 fire trailers systemwide,” he said. “Our fire trailers are utilized for BNSF hazmat incidents, but if there was a community incident that affected a rail or right of way that really wasn’t a BNSF fault, we would definitely bring pieces of equipment to help out the first responders to minimize that so we can keep our services rolling.”

During Rode’s presentation, he also talked about a large crude oil spill on a BNSF track in Doon, Iowa, which occurred in the summer of 2018. There was a limited amount of information Rode could give, because the train wreck is still under investigation.

According to the Des Moines Register, the wreck involved the derailment of 32 oil tanker cars. About 160,000 gallons of oil spilled into the Little Rock River, according to the N’West Iowa REVIEW.

Rode talked about the process of handling the spill, starting with setting up an incident command center to mobilizing the fire trailers to recovering as much of the spilled oil as possible. He was unable to say how much of the oil was recovered except that it was more than 80 percent.

The process took about seven days.

“We didn’t have loss of life,” he said during his presentation. “I’ll say it very clearly: the railroad lost a great deal of money this day. No figure has been released. I can assure you it was a great deal of money. We had no injuries following, during the cleanup. That is a huge success for the railroad and the contractors.”

Lampkin expressed regret that he was unable to be present at the meeting.

“Really, we just want to convey the response capabilities we have, preparedness throughout the community and our transparency for first responders and provide that free community training for the fire departments,” he said.

One of the local officials who takes part in the emergency planning committee, Lyon County Undersheriff John Koelsch, said he found the presentation informative.

“We found out some resources that we didn’t know were available,” he said.

Lyon County Emergency Manager Jarrod Fell agreed.

“I think the take away from all of our local emergency planning committee meetings is just to educate our group, our membership (and) provide information involving emergency planning,” he said.

The railway is an important part of the committee’s planning, Fell said, as BNSF-owned rails runs through Emporia and Lyon County.

“That’s an important part of our planning process, when we talk about our hazards and vulnerabilities, and (BNSF) did a great job in explaining to us their response to those emergencies,” he said.

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Stanton County Fire and Rescue held their December meeting and several firefighters were recognized for milestones in years of service. Stanton County Fire Chief, Troy Wolf presented them with their respective year pin: Vaugh Lorenson – 30 years; Erin Branstine – 5 years; Jorge Wissar – 10 years; and (not pictured) Kenna Rohrenback – 10 years.

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The McPherson Fire Department announced the promotion of four individuals. Interim Chief TJ Wyssmann was promoted to fire chief. He has served as interim for the department since August 13, when he was promoted from deputy fire chief. Wyssmann’s appointment follows the retirement of past Fire Chief Jeff Deal.

Other promotions include Wade Hall from lieutenant to captain, Alden Slack from lieutenant to captain and Dakota Becker from firefighter to lieutenant.

Memorial service will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, December, 19, 2018 at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel, Larned with Pastor John Thomas. Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, December, 18, 2018 at Beckwith Mortuary. Inurnment will be in Brown’s Grove Cemetery, Burdett with military graveside rites.

Memorials may be given to Burdett EMS or Burdett Senior Center, in care of Beckwith Mortuary, P.O. 477, Larned, KS 67550.

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A. Neal Reichel, 83, passed away January 7, 2019 at Clara Barton Hospital, Hoisington. He was born August 26, 1935 at LaCrosse to Henry and Esther (Foos) Reichel. He married Opal Mellies November 17, 1954 at Bushton. She died May 6, 2016.

Neal, a long time farmer, lived on a farm northeast of Bison his entire life, before retiring and moving to Great Bend in 2001. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, a former EMT for Rush County, active for years with the Bison volunteer fire department, and a member of the ISIS Shrine. Neal enjoyed and felt blessed to take his grandkids fishing, boating and camping.

Survivors include, two sons, Joel Reichel and his wife Terry of Alexander and Jody Reichel and his husband Seth Munter of San Francisco, California; two daughters, Charlotte Brening and her husband Phil of Fort Worth, Texas and Cherie Belford and her husband Larry of Hoisington; eleven grandchildren; twenty-three great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and a sister, Barbara Baus of McCracken. He was preceded in death by his wife, Opal Reichel and a brother, Carroll Reichel.

Visitation will be held from Noon to 9:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 9, 2019 at Bryant Funeral Home. Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, January 10, 2019 at First United Methodist Church in Great Bend, with Rev. Morita Truman presiding. There will be a Private Family Inurnment at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the Rush County EMS or the Bison Volunteer Fire Department, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

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The City of Louisburg, Kan., is searching for a Fire Chief to serve the city and the Miami County Rural Fire District 2. This position will oversee all fire-related aspects of the volunteer fire crew including fire prevention and suppression activities, to prevent or minimize the loss of life and property by fire. This employee should possess the ability to remain poised and make critical decisions under extremely difficult and hazardous circumstances. This employee should also possess strong mechanical aptitude, excellent communication, supervisory, organizational, and public relations skills.
The position requires one to three years of similar or related experience, a high school diploma or GED is required. A technical degree or some college credit in a related field is preferred.
This position will report to the City Administrator.
The City offers a competitive compensation package including paid employee health, vision and dental insurance, paid leave, and Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS) through 2018. Starting in 2020 the position will be a member of the Kansas Police and Firemen’s Retirement System (KP&F). Salary commensurate with experience, ranging from $53,070.79 to $70,823.17. Drug/Alcohol screening required. Applications are available at City Hall 215 S Broadway, Louisburg, KS 66053. Or email jcarder@louisburgkansas.gov to receive an electronic application. Please put “Fire Chief” in the subject line. All applications must be submitted on or before February 15, 2019. For information, contact City Administrator Nathan Law at nlaw@louisburgkansas.gov. The City of Louisburg is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
A detailed job description may be found on the City’s website: www.louisburgkansas.gov

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Greenwood County Fire Chief Doug Williams has been named Interim Sedgwick County Fire District 1 Chief as of December 21.

Williams currently lives in Eureka and has been employed as Sedwick County Division Chief of Operations as well as serving in Greenwood County. He took over for retiring fire chief Tavis Leake.

Williams began his career in 1988 and he has served as a division chief for several years. He has been the Eureka City Fire Chief for 22 years, the Greenwood County Fire Chief for eight years and has served as a former Greenwood County Emergency Management Director.

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John Keating has retired after a 25-year career with the Fort Scott Fire Department. He began his career in 1993 as a volunteer firefighter, eventually working his way through the ranks to captain, his most recent title.

Keating has worked for three fire chiefs the last 25 years, most recently Paul Ballou, who has served as chief since 2009.

After Keating’s retirement, some shuffling in the department included promotion of Jacob May and Clint Roberts to the position of captain; Alex Schafer and Clint Lawrence to lieutenant; and Scott Shelton, Dalton Carpenter and Ryan Thomas from reserve to full-time firefighters.

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Good day Kansas Fire Service. Hopefully you all had a good Christmas and time spent with family. The New Year brings a chance at reflection on the past year of service and potential for changes going forward. We are moving forward in to the new year with a lot of things happening around the state. I would encourage all of you to be looking ahead at what 2019 will bring and find opportunity to make improvements in your agency.
Many departments saw an increase in their calls for service over the past year. This just highlights that the Fire service is a staple item in communities and our resource needs will continue. Hopefully governing bodies will recognize this and continue to properly fund the emergency services across the state. It is our job as leaders in the fire service of the state to accurately and consistently collect that response data so we can show our elected officials our needs and justify the expenses. The most effective way to do that is through fire reports. If you are having issues with getting reports in or are having difficulty in completing reports, please make sure to contact the Office of the State Fire Marshal for assistance. They have staff who can help you report as well as help you what proper coding and other questions you may have. They also can help you gain access to the reporting software at little to no cost.
Your Executive Board has been meeting with other fire groups as well as law enforcement and EMS groups this year to try and promote legislative language to cover cancer, PTSD, and various communicable diseases. We are attempting to build a coalition of public safety that can be together on issues such as this as well as retirement issue and other public safety related issues going forward. This will be just the first year working together, but it will be beneficial to the fire service as a whole as we go forward in time. We have been hearing for years that the divide between fire service groups is our greatest barrier in the legislature. If we can get all the groups on the same page, we will be a formidable force.
Finally, your Executive Board has been working on various new curriculums to deliver at our regional schools as well as those we will be able to co deliver with other entities across the state. The much-anticipated wildfire curriculum will be nearing completion in the next few months. It is a great example of collaboration between multiple fire service entities to develop a tool for all of the Kansas Fire Service.
I will leave you this month with a reminder to try and attend one of our regional schools. We have several good ones upcoming in your area. Also, there is the SCAFFA school on March 21-24 in Topeka this year which will feature several keynote speakers as well as many new courses based on student requests from the last couple years. Many of the classes are based around hands on skills as well as some officer development courses. And I would be remiss if I did not mention our Annual Conference on April 25, 26, and 27 in Salina Kansas. If you have never been before, please consider attending. Help us conduct the business of this association for the betterment of the Kansas Fire Service. You can find information on this and all the other trainings across Kansas at www.ksffa.com. Have a safe day and see you all at a school near you!

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John B. Riedel, 80, died December 30, 2018, at Clara Barton Hospital, Hoisington. He was born July 8, 1938, on the family farm near Olmitz, Kansas, the son of Bernard J. and Anna V. (Budig) Riedel. John was a graduate of Otis High School and served in the Army Reserves.

A lifetime resident of Olmitz, John drove the milk truck for the cheese plant and then as a pumper in the oilfield for many years. Later he worked as an irrigation specialist for A.V.I. John Deere in Larned; and Bird Oil. He retired from Superior Essex as a machine operator at the age of 70.

He was a member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus, in Olmitz. He had also served on the Olmitz city council and the volunteer fire department. John loved to tinker and could most often be found in his garage working on a project. He also loved to garden and smoke meats in his smokehouse, and loved spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

On October 20, 1958, he married Imelda A. “Meldie” Lichter at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Olmitz. She preceded him in death on January 1, 2018.

He is survived by six children; Brenda Riedel of Olmitz, Tom Riedel of McPherson, Sandy Urban and husband Charlie of Olmitz, Richard Riedel and wife Shelley of Hoisington, Linda Pechanec and husband Tom of Timken, and Sheila Schilowsky of Great Bend; sister, Janet Savage of Gilman City, MO; 14 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, daughter, Tammy Jo Riedel, brother, Melvin Riedel, and a sister, Ann Mantz.

Friends may call 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday at the funeral home. Casket will be closed, per his wishes.

Vigil and Rosary will be 7 p.m. Thursday, with family to greet friends prior to, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the church. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, January 4, 2019, all at St. Ann Catholic Church, Olmitz, celebrated by Father Don Bedore. Burial will follow in St. Ann’s Catholic Cemetery, Olmitz.

Memorials may be made to the Olmitz Volunteer Fire Department, in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

He was born May 14, 1940 in Parsons, Kansas to Charles Wesley and Alberta C. (Ford) Brown. Jack grew up in Parsons and graduated in 1958 from Labette County Community High School in Altamont.

Following high school, he served in the United States Army Reserve from 1959-1965. He was employed from 1961-1967 as a psychiatric aide at the Parsons State Hospital and Training Center, from 1967-1976 at the Parsons Fire Department, and at Peabody TecTank in Parsons from 1977 until retiring in 2002. Jack also worked part-time at the Carson Funeral Home which later became Carson-Dick Funeral Home for 15 years. Most recently he worked part-time at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons.

He was a member of the First Christian Church in Parsons. He was also a member of the Elks – BPOE Lodge No. 527 and in earlier years the Order of DeMolay. He enjoyed fishing, dancing, and playing cards at the Katy Parsons Golf Club.

Jack and Joyce Tedstrom were married September 23, 1961 in Parsons. She preceded him in death on November 28, 2004. On April 1, 2006, he and Charlotte McGuire were married in Parsons.

Survivors include:

His Wife – Charlotte Brown of the home

One Son – David Brown of Webb City, MO

Three Daughters – Tracy Reece of San Antonio, TX

Melissa Sloan of Pittsburg, KS

Kimberly Gruver of Parsons, KS

Eight Grandchildren

Five Great-Grandchildren

In addition to his first wife, he was preceded in death by one sister, Carolyn Keeling.

Following cremation, private burial will be in Springhill Cemetery under the direction of the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Friends may call to pay their respect from noon until 5:00 p.m., on Saturday, January 5, 2019 at the family home in Parsons.

Memorials are suggested to the Parsons Dialysis Memorial Fund. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.

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Seventy volunteer and part-time fire departments across the state received funds this year through the Kansas Firefighter Recruitment and Safety Grant Program administered by the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM). The grant awards will be used by fire departments for the purchase of safety gear, washer/extractor machines for cleaning bunker gear, start-up of Junior Firefighter programs and physical costs for firefighters with no insurance or ability to be reimbursed by their department.

This program was made possible with the 2018 State of Kansas budget passed by the state Legislature. Last year, 36 departments were awarded grant funds with the previous grant budget of $200,000. The OSFM was able to award grant funds to nearly twice as many departments this year, with the funding being doubled to $400,000.

Volunteer and part-time fire departments face recruitment and retention challenges because they do not have the funding to provide safety equipment. Without new equipment provided by the recruiting fire department, potential volunteers are faced with not only donating their time but also providing their own safety gear, sharing gear with others, or doing without. There is also a proven increase in cancer diagnoses for firefighters, which can be caused by prolonged exposure to carcinogens, particulates and biohazards. The proper gear, regular cleaning of that gear and equipment, along with preventative healthcare is crucial for a firefighter’s health and well-being.

This year, over $1.3 million in requests from 79 departments were submitted. Fire departments received approximately $310,000 to be used for safety gear and $90,000 for 26 washer/extractor machines. Due to the high number of requests, OSFM will be requesting the 2019 Legislature continue funding this important grant.

‘We’ve seen, by the sheer number of requests for this funding, the need is high among our volunteer and part-time fire departments,’ Doug Jorgensen, State Fire Marshal, said. ‘It is simply unacceptable to ask Kansans, not only to volunteer their time as first responders in smaller communities, but to also sacrifice their safety by not giving them the tools they need to protect and serve their communities as volunteer firefighters. This grant allows us to assist in providing some of the funds needed to provide safety equipment the departments otherwise could not afford.’